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Televisions, tech and old people
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So, I'm having a problem with my elderly father.
He wanted a new telly, which would work with telly, iplayer, youtube and of course, hard core porn.
He is very much a bloke of the 1930s to 1950s. Domestic servitude, a wife who does what is expected of her and shouldn't need to ask what is expected of her.
Trouble is, I bought for him a 32" Panasonic which fits perfectly on his old glass, 3 tier telly stand in the corner of the lounge.
He keeps firm hold of the remote control in his hands at all times.
Of course, like most elderly people, he falls asleep and wakes up without realising.
He tells me that the telly is faulty because it suddenly, mysteriously changes things.
I have tried explaining to him that he is most likely accidentally pressing random buttons on the remote when he nods off.
He denies this completely.
Help! |
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"tell him there is a television ghost  randomly changes things"
I tried that, but clearly, in his mind, the ghost is me.
It's me! I sabotaged everything and am clearly therefore to blame for everything! |
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You'll never convince him. My dad is 97, we've had to be quite straightforward with him when it comes to his laptop because he simply denies that he's done what he very clearly has.
You might need to be quite stern (I know it goes against the grain) and tell him that there's no other explanation and he needs to put the remote down. Perhaps soften the blow with a little side table or one of those things you hang on the arm of the chair |
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"You'll never convince him. My dad is 97, we've had to be quite straightforward with him when it comes to his laptop because he simply denies that he's done what he very clearly has.
You might need to be quite stern (I know it goes against the grain) and tell him that there's no other explanation and he needs to put the remote down. Perhaps soften the blow with a little side table or one of those things you hang on the arm of the chair "
I've even tried softening the blow with a bottle of single malt, but it only makes matters worse!
Sadly, like many blokes of his age, he believes in military superiority. Just as a sapper doesn't tell a Sergeant Major what to do, also a son doesn't tell a dad what to do.
It is very good to know that I am not the only person in this predicament though! Thankyou... |
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"Get him a lazyboy recliner with the holder for the remote, cup etc.
He'll adapt if he thinks it's his own idea."
"He'll adapt if he thinks it's his own idea."
And that is one of the problems.
He simply wants me to do what he did the last time he bought a telly.
Wander into the local high street telly shop. Say to the shop assistant "I want a new telly". Be pointed to a shelf of radios, tellies and hoover juniors. Dad will then say "I'll take that one" whilst pointing approximately. The sales assistant will take a telly off the shelf, take some money off Dad and Dad will return home with a telly which is already set up and just needs plugging in to the 5 amp round pin socket and co-ax aerial lead.
He simply refuses to do 2 things.
1 Accept that this is not how you buy a telly today.
2 Allow me to drive him to the nearest telly shop so that he can see for himself.
 |
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"Tell him one of the valves has blown."
Mwaah!
I'm old enough to understand how a valve works and old enough to understand how a transistor works. But he has already stated that there is most likely a "dodgy connection / loose wire" in the remote control and he certainly has no understanding of chips other than the chips you get in a bag wi' bits on...... |
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Boring I know, as I'm in the specialist hifi retail industry, but what is the model number of said haunted TV? There will be a setting ( usually off timer) and I will duly look into for you. Eco settings might help, but generally it's further into the menu settings.  |
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"Boring I know, as I'm in the specialist hifi retail industry, but what is the model number of said haunted TV? There will be a setting ( usually off timer) and I will duly look into for you. Eco settings might help, but generally it's further into the menu settings. "
Thankyou for your comment.
I'm sure there is a setting to turn off the auto power off feature. But that is not the main problem.
I need to be able to disable access via the remote control to ALL settings. But at the same time, allow simple and easy access to freeview, youtube, iplayer, broadcast tv and hard core porn. All without paying any subscriptions, without disclosing bank card details and how on earth do I explain Netflix to him? |
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I sometimes list or programme shows that will be on and of interest. Of course, this could add to the sense of it being like a ghost. It's worth giving some training in its use.
I do agree about using the eco reminder type option, to turn the TV off, after a set time, or at a regular time at night. |
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"Take the batteries out of the remote  "
I know what you are saying, but....
that won't work as he has already mixed up the Duracells which are flat with the duracells which are new and is completely adamant that he can't watch BBC1 despite him having kept the "1 button" pressed firmly down for at least 67 minutes. |
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"Take the batteries out of the remote
I know what you are saying, but....
that won't work as he has already mixed up the Duracells which are flat with the duracells which are new and is completely adamant that he can't watch BBC1 despite him having kept the "1 button" pressed firmly down for at least 67 minutes."
Take notes for when this happens to you. Remember that he might have taught how to use a spoon, and that some people would have loved to be able to buy their father anything. |
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Go on eBay and order a ye olde cathode ray tube telly with no remote. Or take the batteries out of the remote.
My Dad has forgotten how to operate a TV and a radio and hasn't even asked about the Euros, despite it being in his daily paper and him previously being a massive football fan. |
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"Take the batteries out of the remote
I know what you are saying, but....
that won't work as he has already mixed up the Duracells which are flat with the duracells which are new and is completely adamant that he can't watch BBC1 despite him having kept the "1 button" pressed firmly down for at least 67 minutes.
Take notes for when this happens to you. Remember that he might have taught how to use a spoon, and that some people would have loved to be able to buy their father anything. "
I think the op is seeking strategies to help his dad with this without upsetting him. Hopefully 'if' it happens to him someone will treat him with the same respect. |
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I feel your pain
I spent probably 3 years teaching my dad how to attach a file to an email, probably 3 times a week he called. So I wrote him a handy guide and left the file on the desktop…so then I started getting calls about how he can’t find the file as he can’t find the bloody desktop.
Finally he cracked it…then bought a sodding smart phone!
As I get paid to deal with complex technology, I’m fairly sure I must be adopted based on his lack of skills, or my mom is a secret NASA scientist  |
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"I feel your pain
I spent probably 3 years teaching my dad how to attach a file to an email, probably 3 times a week he called. So I wrote him a handy guide and left the file on the desktop…so then I started getting calls about how he can’t find the file as he can’t find the bloody desktop.
Finally he cracked it…then bought a sodding smart phone!
As I get paid to deal with complex technology, I’m fairly sure I must be adopted based on his lack of skills, or my mom is a secret NASA scientist "
We've told my dad that if he buys a smartphone we're having nothing to do with it. |
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"I feel your pain
I spent probably 3 years teaching my dad how to attach a file to an email, probably 3 times a week he called. So I wrote him a handy guide and left the file on the desktop…so then I started getting calls about how he can’t find the file as he can’t find the bloody desktop.
Finally he cracked it…then bought a sodding smart phone!
As I get paid to deal with complex technology, I’m fairly sure I must be adopted based on his lack of skills, or my mom is a secret NASA scientist
We've told my dad that if he buys a smartphone we're having nothing to do with it. "
Weirdly, my Dad can still do certain things on his smartphone. Making and answering phone calls are NOT among those things, however!  |
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"I feel your pain
I spent probably 3 years teaching my dad how to attach a file to an email, probably 3 times a week he called. So I wrote him a handy guide and left the file on the desktop…so then I started getting calls about how he can’t find the file as he can’t find the bloody desktop.
Finally he cracked it…then bought a sodding smart phone!
As I get paid to deal with complex technology, I’m fairly sure I must be adopted based on his lack of skills, or my mom is a secret NASA scientist
We've told my dad that if he buys a smartphone we're having nothing to do with it.
Weirdly, my Dad can still do certain things on his smartphone. Making and answering phone calls are NOT among those things, however! "
Ha!
Compared to his peers my dad is fairly tech savvy but he has limits |
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"I feel your pain
I spent probably 3 years teaching my dad how to attach a file to an email, probably 3 times a week he called. So I wrote him a handy guide and left the file on the desktop…so then I started getting calls about how he can’t find the file as he can’t find the bloody desktop.
Finally he cracked it…then bought a sodding smart phone!
As I get paid to deal with complex technology, I’m fairly sure I must be adopted based on his lack of skills, or my mom is a secret NASA scientist
We've told my dad that if he buys a smartphone we're having nothing to do with it.
Weirdly, my Dad can still do certain things on his smartphone. Making and answering phone calls are NOT among those things, however!
Ha!
Compared to his peers my dad is fairly tech savvy but he has limits"
My Dad WAS very tech savvy. It's rapidly vanishing back into the annals of history, though  |
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My ex husband is totally clueless when it comes to using a PC.
If he has to do anything on his laptop for work I know I'm getting a call.
I'd do it remotely if I could but he couldn't even find his Chrome icon to use Google. |
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I don't really have any other suggestions OP but you're not alone in this. I think most of us go through it with our parents at some point. My dad was the same. He could do certain things but he'd blame the item if he accidentally hit a wrong button. He also used to fall asleep watching TV so my mum would turn it over and he'd wake up saying "I was watching that! I wasn't asleep" but couldn't tell you anything that had happened on said tv program for the length of his nap
I hope you find something that helps. |
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 |
By *lynJMan 13 weeks ago
Morden |
"So, I'm having a problem with my elderly father.
He wanted a new telly, which would work with telly, iplayer, youtube and of course, hard core porn.
He is very much a bloke of the 1930s to 1950s. Domestic servitude, a wife who does what is expected of her and shouldn't need to ask what is expected of her.
Trouble is, I bought for him a 32" Panasonic which fits perfectly on his old glass, 3 tier telly stand in the corner of the lounge.
He keeps firm hold of the remote control in his hands at all times.
Of course, like most elderly people, he falls asleep and wakes up without realising.
He tells me that the telly is faulty because it suddenly, mysteriously changes things.
I have tried explaining to him that he is most likely accidentally pressing random buttons on the remote when he nods off.
He denies this completely.
Help!"
Can you set up a camera to record his actions for an evening/week. Tell him you're going to set up a camera but not where it is.
At the end of the period, you can review what was actually happening. |
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"Boring I know, as I'm in the specialist hifi retail industry, but what is the model number of said haunted TV? There will be a setting ( usually off timer) and I will duly look into for you. Eco settings might help, but generally it's further into the menu settings.
Thankyou for your comment.
I'm sure there is a setting to turn off the auto power off feature. But that is not the main problem.
I need to be able to disable access via the remote control to ALL settings. But at the same time, allow simple and easy access to freeview, youtube, iplayer, broadcast tv and hard core porn. All without paying any subscriptions, without disclosing bank card details and how on earth do I explain Netflix to him?"
All Panasonic TV'S have a hotel mode that turns the majority of buttons null and void |
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|
By *arkus1812Man 13 weeks ago
Lifes departure lounge NN9 Northamptonshire East not West MidlandsMidlands |
"I feel your pain
I spent probably 3 years teaching my dad how to attach a file to an email, probably 3 times a week he called. So I wrote him a handy guide and left the file on the desktop…so then I started getting calls about how he can’t find the file as he can’t find the bloody desktop.
Finally he cracked it…then bought a sodding smart phone!
As I get paid to deal with complex technology, I’m fairly sure I must be adopted based on his lack of skills, or my mom is a secret NASA scientist
We've told my dad that if he buys a smartphone we're having nothing to do with it. "
I bought a smartphone a few months ago, gave it to my grandaughter after having it for two weeks, I did not have the patience to persevere with it.
I am fine with the televison though. |
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"tell him there is a television ghost randomly changes things
I tried that, but clearly, in his mind, the ghost is me.
It's me! I sabotaged everything and am clearly therefore to blame for everything!"
Repossess the tv and replace it with a 1950”s tv until he apologises |
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"
I'm sure there is a setting to turn off the auto power off feature. But that is not the main problem.
I need to be able to disable access via the remote control to ALL settings. But at the same time, allow simple and easy access to freeview, youtube, iplayer, broadcast tv and hard core porn. All without paying any subscriptions, without disclosing bank card details and how on earth do I explain Netflix to him?"
if you buy a switched type all in one remote control you can use that but it needs switching to stop the function use
digital versions can do it as well
all in one remote controls have basic settings so find the right type you need to use
these ones are going to be the interesting ones
freeview, youtube, iplayer, broadcast tv and hard core porn. All without paying any subscriptions
its either a usb stick but may cut you off the adult side
and to be honest the tech is just another remote control hogging unit
the only true version is pc based yet again its not age easy to use
the alternative is dvd or usb based adult stuff you can go through dvd to usb hard drive easily enough
yet again its remote control hogging
im sorry but tech is not age friendly so a fool stating all of these to an elderly person is an idiot
freeview, youtube, iplayer, broadcast tv and hard core porn. All without paying any subscriptions
age is basic 4-5 channels via the tv a freeview basic tv and the user will start to get lost with alot of channels |
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